Since learning of
new U.S. guidelines regarding the importation of puppies from rabies-positive countries, effective August 11, 2014, as set out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the CKC has reached out to various organizations for further comment and information to best support our position and to pursue exceptions to these new directives that direly affect our member breeders and their puppies.
The guidelines call for stricter enforcement of CDC’s Dog Importation Regulations requiring that dogs be fully immunized against rabies before being imported into the U.S. The rabies vaccination must be administered no earlier than 12 weeks of age of the dog and at least 30 days before arrival at a U.S. port of entry. Therefore, the youngest that a puppy may be imported to the U.S. is 4 months of age.
CKC understands the tremendous impact that the new terms of the dog confinement agreement will have on our responsible member breeders and continues to confer with organizations such as the AKC, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the CVMA to voice our position, to best represent our responsible member breeders and their healthy, well-socialized puppies and ultimately seek exemption to the newly enforced regulations. Further updates will be provided as we work to find a resolution.